Goal #2 Goal #3 Goal #4Goal #1
GOVERNANCE
Foster community well-being, inclusive services, and enhanced quality of life in Merced.
Promote Ethical Leadership,
Collaboration, and
Transparency
Use council subcommittees
to enhance collaboration
and decision-making.
1. Maintain clear policies,
procedures, and ethics
guidelines to uphold
transparency.
2. Conduct a mid-year review
of council goals & priorities
to ensure alignment with
community needs.
3. Maintain public policy
calendar to facilitate
efficient governance and
ensure timely consideration
and discussion of important
issues.
4. Enhance transparency
through police dept. reports
- statistics, CIP updates,
ARPA expenditures.
5. Continue adhering to a
balanced budget, regularly
reviewing and adjusting
financial strategies aligned
with long-term goals, and
diversifying revenue sources
to mitigate risks.
1. Develop robust financial
reserves and contingency
plans to buffer against
economic uncertainties and
unexpected expenses.
2. Continue collaborating with
financial experts, conducting
regular audits, and promoting
transparency in financial
reporting to maintain
accountability.
3. Ensure Financial Stability
and Sustainability
Promote the City's newly
launched platform to access
financial information.
https://www.cityofmerced.or
g/departments/finance/fina
ncial-analysis-tool
1. Post educational videos to
explain the City’s financial
reports.
2. Organize community events to
discuss financial matters and
answer questions to improve
transparency and
engagement.
3. Enhance Public
Understanding of City
Finances and Civic Affairs
Elevate Community
Engagement Through
Technology
Update website to
Cityofmerced.gov to boost
trust and credibility in
digital government
services.
1. Update City Website for
enhanced accessibility,
updated content, and user
experience.
2. Explore adding a portal
for public access to
resolutions, ordinances,
and other public
documents.
3. Use Engage
.CityofMerced.org as a
resource to educate and
solicit community
engagement and
feedback.
4. Update and rebrand City
Seal to reflect community
values, identity, and goals.
5. Prepare short
informational "how-to"
and "do-you-know" videos
to explain city services
and regulations.
6. 2024/2025
MERCED CITY COUNCIL
GOALS AND PRIORITIES
Goal #2 Goal #3 Goal #4Goal #1
QUALITY OF LIFE
Elevate the quality of life in Merced by enhancing amenities and improving services to drive positive growth and transformation throughout our community.
Develop a Parks, Recreation,
and Open Space (PROS)
Master Plan
Engage in planning with
stakeholders, including
residents, community
organizations, and experts.
1. Conduct a comprehensive
assessment of existing parks,
open spaces, and
demographics to identify
community needs and
priorities.
2. Create a strategic plan for
sustainable and equitable
development that considers
accessibility, environmental
conservation, and social
equity.
3. Promote PROS Master Plan to
spread awareness of updated
goals and priorities for parks,
open spaces, and programs.
4. Coordinate adaptive sports
programs for diverse
populations.
1. Plan specific needs-based
sports days for diverse
populations.
2. Prioritize well-maintained,
greener, vibrant park spaces
and pathways through
enhanced maintenance
efforts.
3. Improve coordination of
facilities, including joint use
contracts with schools to
maximize activities and
space utilization.
4. Enhance Park Accessibility,
Sustainability, and Visitor
Experience
Upgrade play equipment and
include accessible amenities
for inclusive parks.
1. Add swing sets to expand
amenities at existing parks.
2. Develop park sites at Bellevue
Ranch.
3. Enhance Amenities,
Maintain Parks to Ensure
Safe, Easy, and Clean
Accessibility
Enhance Youth
Engagement and
Community Well-Being
Foster youth leadership by
reorganizing the Youth
Council to focus on Parks &
Recreation programs and
practices across districts.
1. Expand recreation options
to increase access to
alternative recreation
programs.
2. Improve coordination of
facilities to maximize
activities and space
utilization.
3. Promote special events like
the Gateway to Yosemite
5K/10K Run/Walk.
4. Maintain scholarship
program.
5. Explore options for
managing Applegate Zoo.
6. Goal #6 Goal #7 Goal #8Goal #5
QUALITY OF LIFE
Promote inclusive communities through affordable housing, homeless support, street maintenance, and creek protection.
Housing - Continued Support
and Implementation of
Affordable Housing Initiatives
Support affordable housing development
through targeted policies and initiatives
focused on affordability across income
levels.
1. Continue application process for the
Prohousing Designation Program to foster
a pro-housing environment, including local
initiatives to support and expedite housing
projects.
2. Complete the Housing Element via the
Multijurisdictional Housing Element process
and take action to rezone or amend
zoning code to comply with State
requirements.
3. Update the General Plan to integrate
council directives regarding housing
policies and newly introduced state
programs.
4. Assess rent control policies to promote
housing affordability and stability.
5. Explore potential rental inspection policies
to uphold housing standards and
safeguard the rights of residents in rental
accommodations.
6. Explore alternative
housing solutions to
expand the number of
available beds and
advocate for
increased voucher
allocations to support
vulnerable residents
experiencing
homelessness.
1. Explore options for an
expedited response to
areas requiring
cleanup, including
public facilities
operated by utility
providers.
2. Enhance public space
management to ensure
clean, safe access to
public facilities and
protection of
community assets.
3. Maintain Coordinated
Support for Housing
Initiatives for the Homeless.
Create 25th and R
Street Creek
Restoration Initiative.
1. Develop a
comprehensive creek
protection ordinance
emphasizing "no
camping" to safeguard
creeks, mainly focusing
on implementing a no
camping ordinance
along and in proximity
to creeks, including
areas under bridges.
2. Complete Department
of Water Resources
Creek Restoration
assessment and
improvement projects.
3. Enhance and Sustain Creek
Protection Efforts Arts and Culture
Initiatives.
Continue to develop a list
of city-owned properties
suitable for site-specific
public art projects.
1. Annually allocate funds to
support city-sponsored
public art projects and
actively pursue grants to
further artistic initiatives.
2. Cultivate art districts that
spotlight the city's dynamic
artistic and culturally
diverse communities.
3. Explore opportunities with
the California Arts Council
to recognize Downtown
Merced as a Cultural
District formally.
4. Continue to establish Arts
Districts and seek state
grant or program funding
to support these areas.
5. .
Goal #2 Goal #3Goal #1
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Promote economic growth and community vitality through entrepreneurship, attracting businesses tailored to local needs, and improving infrastructure and tourism.
Attract Businesses and
Employment Opportunities
Meet with retailers and
developers to promote the
economic benefits of local
business establishments.
1. Highlight business benefits:
diverse customer base, local
support, fostering partnerships
to address community needs
and align with goals of
businesses and developers.
2. Strengthen the workforce
through continued partnerships
for skill enhancement.
3. Continued exploration of
investment locations for
industrial and technology parks
to assess future development
potential.
4. Ensure timely completion of
Merced Yosemite Regional
Airport Terminal Replacement
Project. Seek additional funding
for furnishings and interior
enhancements.
1. With Renne Public Policy Group
support, seek grants and
state/federal representative
backing for Airport Fuel Farm
Replacement to meet regulatory
timeline.
2. Finish airport rebranding project,
unveiling new logo, collateral,
and website upgrade.
3. Support Airport Redevelopment
Collaborate with local
business community and hotel
association to create a TBID
to strengthen local marketing
initatives and drive tourism
growth.
1. Create a Tourism-Based
Improvement District to improve
marketing and tourism.
Goal #5
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Promote economic growth and community vitality through entrepreneurship, attracting businesses tailored to local needs, and improving infrastructure and tourism.
Continue to Boost
Downtown Vitality.
Foster collaborations with Workforce
Development partnerships to enhance
local workforce skills.
1. Establish apprenticeship programs for
hands-on training and skill development.
2. Establish a vacant building ordinance to
address maintenance, safety, and blight
mitigation for vacant properties.
3. Goal #4
Consider an EIFD for improved
infrastructure and investment
options.
Develop Tax Increment
Financing Districts (EIFDs) to
fund infrastructure in
designated areas using
property tax growth to
advance diverse projects
without imposing new taxes.
1. Goal #6
Explore Industrial/Tech Park
investment for economic growth
and innovation attraction.
Continue to explore
potential locations for
investment in industrial
and technology parks.
1. .
Goal #2Goal #1
PUBLIC SAFETY
Enhance community policing, emergency response, and engagement for a secure community.
Enhanced Community
Policing Initiatives
Maintain area command community
policing, offer academies and youth
programs, and prioritize ongoing
training for effective officer service.
1. Implement Traffic Management
Initiatives with signal adjustments,
education, school coordination,
dead-end measures, and red light
enforcement trials to curb speeding
and improve safety.
2. Create a Real Time Information
Center to improve law enforcement's
crime prevention and response,
enhancing community safety.
3. Explore options to address criminal
drug activities within the community
4. Maintain Graffiti Abatement
Program and evaluate the potential
for this as a city-led service activity.
5. Launch a City Park Camera Initiative
to boost surveillance in parks and
high-crime areas, aiding proactive
policing.
6. Enhance community safety
and support for at-risk youth
through CalVIP, COMMVIP,
and strategic partnerships.
1. Identify and explore
community support providers
to assist in implementing
these goals.
2. Foster Strategic Partnerships to
Address Unique Needs of
Vunerable Youth Populations
Goal #3
Explore Sworn Versus Nonsworn
Functions and Strategies
Explore opportunities to
employ non-sworn
personnel to provide
administrative support,
community outreach,
evidence management, and
crime analysis, among other
duties.
1. Goal #4 Goal #6
PUBLIC SAFETY
Enhance community safety and well-being through integrated strategies, diversified services, and comprehensive support.
Explore funding
opportunities (grants,
partnerships, capital
budgets, long-term
financing) for equipment
and infrastructure
acquisition.
1. Prioritize investments for
critical needs like facility
expansion, equipment
replacement, and
emergency response
enhancement.
2. Explore funding
opportunities to provide
sustainability of staffing
supported by FEMA’s
Staffing for Adequate Fire
and Emergency Response
(SAFER).
3. Plan for future police and fire
facility and equipment needs.
Address homeless and
hard-to-reach individuals'
needs comprehensively.
Continue developing
partnerships to serve
homeless and hard-to-
reach individuals.
1. Seek partners to focus on
outreach efforts with a
focus on mental health
services, temporary
housing access, and job
training.
2. Goal #5
Diversify services including
medical transport and continued
exploration of enhanced EMS
and ALS systems.
Explore adding medical
transport services with
local medical offices as a
"proof of concept."
1. Continue to plan for the
response for future county-
wide RFP for EMS and ALS.
2. Explore partnerships to
enhance EMS response
capabilities.
3. Develop targeted
recruitment, competitive
compensation, professional
development, and retention
programs to support these
services.
4. Goal #7
Enhance Code Enforcement
Efforts
Enhance community
through compliance,
revitalization,
partnerships, data-driven
decisions, outreach,
MercedConnect, and
training.
1. Enhance weed
abatement efforts to
ensure public safety by
reducing seasonal fire
hazards.
2. Goal #2 Goal #3Goal #1
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Strategically invest in community development, including CIP initiatives, to enhance Merced's quality of life.
Improve Mobility, Road
Safety, and Public Transit Street Maintenance and Repair Initiative
City Facilities, Equipment,
Financing, and Maintenance
Conduct a City Council study
session to discuss facility needs
and implementation options,
including financing.
1. Explore and discuss equipment
- large capital expenditures
needs and funding options.
2. Consider a city facility use and
needs study to set priorities and
guide future actions and
investment.
3. Complete update of City-Wide
Community Facilities District
(CFD) to modernize and
streamline implementation for
development projects.
4. Continue to identify areas
needing repair, prioritizing
based on traffic volume,
pavement condition, and safety
concerns.
1. Continue proactive
maintenance measures such as
pothole patching, crack sealing,
resurfacing, and targeted
repairs to address critical
infrastructure deficiencies.
2. Provide information on road
funding options and seek
community input to prioritize
investment and formation of
roadway Capital Improvement
Projects.
3. Enhance city staff capacity for
ongoing maintenance efforts.
4. As part of City Standards Update,
consider adding alternative options
to enhance traffic calming.
1. Participate in the update of the
Countywide ATP plan and seek
funding opportunities for enhanced
pedestrian and bicycle safety,
especially near schools - seek input
from the Bicycle and Pedestrian
Advisory Committee and public on
priorities.
2. Continue to utilize the Traffic
Committee to evaluate community
requests for traffic calming and
safety measures.
3. Implement Red Light Camera
program to improve roadway
safety.
4. Invite The Bus to provide an update
on public transit.
5. Goal #5 Goal #6Goal #4
COMMUNITY INVESTMENTStrategically invest in community development, including CIP initiatives, to enhance Merced's quality of life.
Continue progress on Capital
Improvement Projects and
Community Involvement
Community Planning and
Environmental Projects South Merced
Continually assist the South
Merced Subcommittee in
addressing needs and priorities
to enhance the South Merced
community.
1. Consider adding a Public
Facility Finance Program
reduction to help attract a
South Merced Grocery Store.
2. Maintain ongoing efforts to
seek community enhancement
grants such as the
Transformative Climate
Communities (TCC) grant.
3. Promote and continue
community cleanup efforts.
4. Consider options to utilize
greywater systems on new
residential and commercial
development projects to
help with water
conservation.
1. Continue to explore
providing services and
possibly annexing county
pockets and fringe areas,
especially disadvantaged
communities.
2. Prioritize completing ARPA-
funded projects - Downtown
One Way, Bob Hart Square,
CP 42.
1. Add gateway enhancement as
a feature of Bob Hart Square
project.
2. Create procedures in the CIP
process to solicit community
input and provide for Council
priority options.
3. Funding Tool Kit - provide
education on funding sources
used to implement CIP
projects.
4. District 1
COUNCIL PRIORITY CIP PROJECTS BY DISTRICT
Stowell School Crosswalk and
Sidewalks
1. Golden Valley High School - 2.
ped crosswalk & Hawk Signal3.
Coffee and Campus Pkwy ADA and Ped
Crossing
4. CP 42 Playground5.
CP 42 Lighting6.
Baker Drive7.
Gilbert Macias Park - Handball Court -
Grafitti Wall
8. Joe Herb Park Improvements9.
District 2 District 3
District 4 District 5 District 6
Diego Rivera Park Playground -
Swings
1. Childs and N St. Signal Split Phase2.
Applegate Park Basketball
Court Renovation
1. General Vang Pao
Park
1.Fahrens Park Parking Lot Expansion1.
Speed Table Bike Crossing - Donna
Drive
2. Stephen Gray Park - Add Dog Park
Feature
3. Rahilly Park Improvements1.
Lake and Yosemite Ped
Improvements
2. Parsons Ave. - Bear Creek
Ped Bridge
3. FUNDING SOURCES
CDBG - Community Development Block Grant1.
C- Measure C2.
V - Measure V3.
Y - Measure Y4.
Other Grants - CMAQ, ATP, SRS, First 55.